Mon's Getting On The Bus Again-For The TTNS

The last trip I took was to Dallas for the 2015 Black Trans Advocacy Conference ( BTW, the 2016 BTAC will happen April 25- May 3, so start making your plans now to be there) and it was via Megabus.

Since I returned from Dallas, haven't been traveling as much because I had to sort out housing issues that caused me to decide not to go to this year's Philly Trans Health Conference and Netroots Nation in Phoenix.


The Texas Transgender nondiscrimination Summit  is a trip I've had on my schedule for a while, and haven't missed since I moved back home from Louisville in 2010.  As a matter of fact, the first local event I attended mere weeks after returning home was the TTNS that was hosted by Rice University.

So once again I'm getting on the Megabus in a few hours and heading up I-45 to Dallas, but this time for the 7th annual edition of Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit.

This year it's not only on the road for the second straight year, it's going to take place starting tomorrow for the first time ever in the Dallas-Ft Worth area.   The TTNS will on the UT-Dallas campus in Richardson, TX. in their Student Union building and I'm looking forward to it.

The UT-Dallas campus address is 800 W. Campbell Rd. in Richardson, TX

What I'm not looking forward to is getting up at the crack of dawn to head downtown for this early morning Megabus departure.   However, getting up that early means I'll be up and out of town before that Houston heat gets cranked up, and it's predicted to be 101 degrees F today.

I'll also have time on that 4 hour ride up I-45 to figure out who gets tomorrow's Shut Up Fool Award.

The other benefit is I'll get there before noon.   When I arrive in Dallas and get to the St Paul DART station a 7 Eleven will be there in which I will eagerly get reacquainted with my fave frozen beverage.

And naw, it's not a margarita, although I'm not gonna lie, it's a close second.

but back to talking about the first ever TTNS in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex.  Looking forward to seeing all my friends in the DFW area, and for those of you in the Dallas-Ft Worth area or nearby, we'd love to have you join us.for the 7th annual TTNS starting Friday morning.

TTNS 2015 Rapidly Approaching

The Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit is rapidly approaching, and this year will  be coming to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the first time.

The 7th annual edition of this event will take place July 31-August 1 on the UT-Dallas campus in Richardson, TX .

Ever since the first event happened on the University of Houston campus back in 2009, the TTNS has been pushing for trans inclusive policies in Texas school districts, colleges and universities. 

It's no accident that ever since the first TTNS event was conducted,  the number of school districts and Texas based colleges and universities with those policies in place has steadily increased, and the training being done at the Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit has played a role in it.

And ever since I moved back home in May 2010, I haven't missed one.

In addition to the seminar blocks, this year's keynote speakers will be Dr. Stephen Sutton, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor University of California at Berkley and Heather Snow, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Arlington.

If you're in the Dallas-Ft Worth area, in easy flying or driving distance or just wish to attend the event, the TTNS staff, volunteers and their UT-Dallas hosts would love to have you there.   You can register for the event by clicking on this link

See y'all on the UT Dallas campus in a few weeks

BTAC 2015-Day 2

Still in Dallas at the Doubletree Campbell Center for the Black Trans Advocacy Conference for my second full day here.



The highlights today will be the keynote speeches by Tiq Milan and Miss major Griffin Gracy.
|The Black Trans Interrnational Pageants will happen later tonight, and many of the seminaras have a health and wellness theme such as Healthcare Hallelujah Trans* Health And The Affordable Care Act  to 'Exploring HIV Health Risks Among Transmen'


I'm also having a blast getting to spend quality time with the trans brothers and the trans sisters I know and geeting acquainted with the trans brothers and trans sisters I'm just meeting for the first time


And love seeing my Dallas fam in Rafael McDonnell and Nell Gaither.
  

I still find it ironic that Diamond Stylz and I live less than 5 miles from each other in Houston, buit i have to bring my butt to BTAC or some other conference to spend quality time with her.


But she knows I love her to death.   And if you feeling down, you won't be after getting hugged by our BTAC First Lady Espy Brown.


There were some amazing conversations taking place here yesterday in our seminars, at dinner and in the hotel lobby.  


And definitely need to step away from the front desk and those sinfully delicious cookies.

BTAC 2015-Day 1

It's actually the third full day of the fourth annual Black Trans Advocacy Conference, but my first full one after my travel day from H-town.


I've always wnted to learn how to do grant writing, and one of the sessions I'll definitely be planning to attend is one entitled 'The Grant Development Process'.


There's also a social media one I'm interested in as I peruse the program offerings for today, Tiq Milan's 'Trans Advocacy Media Training', the Black Trans Community Summit and the TransManifest Open Mic to close out Wednesday's programming.


I wonder who I'll run into today?

In Dallas For BTAC 2015

I've finally made it to the other end of I-45 in Dallas for the 2015 edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference.


It's not only one of my fave conference because it happens to fall around my Cuatro de Mayo birthday, I'm also here on business.

I'm chilling in my 18th floor room with a beautiful view of downtown Dallas.

It's business and pleasure.  I not only get an opportunity to get my learn on, I get to present the Monica Roberts Advocacy Award to this year's winner of it on May 1 as i creep closer to my birthday.

For those of you who couldn't make it, you can check out the BTAC action  on Twiiter via the #BTAC2015 hashtag.

I did get the chance to witness the beautiful opening ceremony for BTAC which included a libation ceremony in which we honored the ancestors inside and outside the trans community

And yes, so happy te Rockets handled their NBA business back home and beat the Mavericks, so I get to gloat for a moment while I'm inside the Dallas city limints.

Time for me to get ome beauty sleep and get ready for my first full day at BTAC 2015.

Rolling Toward Dallas For BTAC 2015

After attempting another day trip to Austin to handle some lobbying business, I'm boarding a Megabus in 45 minutes for the four hour trip up I-45 to Dallas for the 2015 edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference.


I love this fourth annual conference for multiple reasons.   It's one that takes place in my home state and in the city where my mom grew up.  It's one in which trans men from around the country are gathered.


And the best part is that it happens around my birthday, and I get spoiled by the trans brothers.

If this bus pulls out of here on time at 1:15 PM , I'll be getting to Dallas just in time for rush hour at 5:20 PM and my train ride to the convention hotel.

See y'all in a few hours BTAC family.

BTAC 2015 Starts Today!

I won't be there until tomorrow evening, but today happens to be the start of the fourth annual Black Trans Advocacy Conference in Dallas!

Looking forward to this fourth annual gathering in which I get to spend some quality time with the trans brother, their significant others and allies of the community as we  spend a few days learning, laughing, honing our message and building community as we seek to become the change we wish to see in the world.

 BTAC being an easy run from Houston in addition to being scheduled close to my birthday is a bonus.

And yes, got to see who is going to win the award named after a certain blogger y'all know.

This conference is also coming at an interesting time in the wake of the Jenner interview, and gives us a chance to discuss trans issues from a Black transmasculine perspective.

It is a perspective that we really need to hear more of, and we'll have several days at the Doubletree Campbell Center to do just that.  

See y'all tomorrow, BTAC peeps!.

BTAC 2015 DART Mass Transit Options

The excitement is building for me as the April 27-May 3 dates for the 4th annual National Black Trans Advocacy Conference & Awards Gala in Dallas, TX approach and instead of me flying around to country to see y'all, you transpeeps and allies get to come to my home state for a few days.

And yes, I also love this conference because it falls close to my birthday, and it feels like an extended birthday party around my extended trans family for me.  In addition to the great seminars and the Black Trans Advocacy Awards Gala, it also includes the Black Trans International Pageants, the Black Diamond Ball and the Family Fun Day at Austin Ranch.

Will be interesting to see who will win the Monica Roberts Advocacy Award this year   Was pleased to hand it to Tiq Milan in 2014.   Who will I hand it off to on May 1?

This year BTAC attendees who are flying into Dallas will have the option of using their expansive light rail system to get to the conference hotel.

Back in August 2014 the DART Rail Orange Line was finally completed to DFW and the DFW Airport Station was opened for service.   So until 11:35 PM during the weekday you'll be able to ride the Orange Line in the Parker Road direction through downtown Dallas to the Lovers Lane Station, the one closest to the Doubletree Campbell Center.   Trains are scheduled to run from the DFW Station until 1:38 AM, but they end in downtown Dallas.

Once you arrive at the Lovers Lane Station, you will call the front desk and they will send the hotel shuttle bus to pick you up. 

If you're flying into Love Field, you can catch DART to and from the hotel as well.  You'll find your way to the DART Love Field terminal bus stop, then board the DART Love Link 524 bus to the Inwood Rd/Love Field Station at street level.  From there you will catch an Orange Line train in the Parker Rd. direction from the elevated platform to the Lovers Lane Station.

For you Megabus riders into Dallas, you can also access the DART Orange Line to the BTAC conference hotel. The Megabus drops off at the Downtown Dallas Transit Center on East Olive St, and you are only a short two block walk from the transit center to the Orange Line's Pearl/Arts District Station.    Catch the next train in the Parker Rd direction to the Lovers Lane Station.

If you take Greyhound into Dallas, the Greyhound terminal is three blocks south of the DART West End Station where you will catch the DART Rail Orange Line to the Lovers Lane Station.

So what's the DART fare?   It's $2.50 for a two hour ticket or $5 for an all day pass that lasts until 3:00 AM the next day on all transportation modes.

Hope this pointing out the DART travel options to the BTAC conference hotel helps solidify your decision to attend this amazing conference.   Hope to see you peeps there.

TTNS 2015 Accepting Workshop Proposals

Another one of my fave instate events will be happening soon and for the second straight year will be on the road with Jenifer Rene Pool serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies .

The 7th Annual Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit will take place July 31 to August 1, 2015 at the University of Texas at Dallas with the keynote speakers being Dr. Stephen Sutton, Ph.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor University of California at Berkley and Heather Snow, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Arlington.

The Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit is currently accepting workshop proposals and poster session proposals. Our website is www.txtns.org    It's also a 501(c)3 organization, so if you feel inclined to donate to TTNS, your donation is tax deductible.

So what's the Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit?  It's an event in which over its two days we are gathered onsite, the TTNS teaches and provide resources to people on how to effectively engage administrations on Texas colleges, universities, and public schools campuses to advocate for inclusive policies for transgender faculty, staff, and students.

And it's coming to the DFW area for the first time.  Hope you will join us at UT-Dallas for this event  this summer, and if you need further information about the TTNS you can also reach them at info@txtns.org ,on Facebook and Twitter.. 

T- 2 Months And Counting Until BTAC 2015

Well peeps, one of my fave events is rapidly approaching, and not just because it's in my Texas stomping grounds.

It happens to fall very close to my Cuatro de Mayo birthday.

It's the 2015 edition of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference in Dallas from April 27-May 3 at the Doubletree Campbell Center, and it's bigger and badder than ever.

In addition to the informative seminars, Family Fun Day, the Mr. and Ms. BTPS pageant and the Black Diamond Ball and Awards Gala, the keynote speakers this year will be Miss Major Griffin-Gracy and Tiq Milan.

Registration is now open for the event, and FYI, the DART light rail system now runs from DFW to the hotel via the Orange Line and the Lovers Lane station.

For those of you taking Megabus to Dallas, the DART downtown transit center on E/ Olive St. is where the Megabus drop off/pickup stop is located, and it's a short two block walk from the St/ Paul and the Pearl /Arts District stations.

So now that I've broken down how you can get to the hotel from DFW and the Dallas downtown Megabus terminal, hope to see some of you peeps in he Lone Star State for the Black Trans Advocacy Conference and my early birthday celebration.

TTNS Heads To The DFW Area!

The Texas Transgender Non Discrimination Summit is now seven years old, but until last year's event at Texas State in San Marcos, had never been held outside of the Houston area where it was born.

I'm happy to announce on these electronic pages that the TTNS board has selected the dates and the site for the 2015 edition of the event.

The dates ate July 31-August 1, and it will be held on the campus of the University of Texas at Dallas.

This is another history making edition of the Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit, as it will be the first time the TTNS will be held in the DFW metro area and the second consecutive year it has ventured from its Houston area turf.

I'm really looking forward to another TTNS related road trip as this time those of us coming from Houston will be rolling up 1-45.   Hopefully I'll get to see many of my Dallas-Ft Worth area friends and North Texas and East Texas peeps who wish to attend this two day conference that seeks to look at strategic grass roots centered approaches to the issues of social justice and policy implementation as it pertains to the issues of gender identity and gender expression in higher education.

It is one of my favorite in-state activism events, and I haven't missed one since I returned home in 2010.  Since it focuses on opening doors for trans people in higher education, it is a cause and conference that has the enthusiastic TransGriot seal of approval and support.

And the cool part about it is that you''ll have academics, policy experts, students, activists and allies who want Texas public schools and higher education to be accessible to gender variant people in one spot for that fascinating TTNS weekend.
Since the start of the TTNS, the number of Texas school districts, colleges and universities with non discrimination statements and trans friendly policies on their campuses has exponentially increased across the Lone Star State thanks in large part to the strategies, tactics and information shared at previous TTNS events. 

So yes, I have much love for TTNS founder Josephine Tittsworth and the board, and the July 31-August 1 date is already blocked on my event calendar. 

Hope you will join me and other higher education minded Texans in attendance on the UT-Dallas campus for the seventh annual edition of the Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit.

BTAC 2015 Dates

The dates for the 2015 Black Trans Advocacy Conference have been announced, and once again it''l be right on the doorstep of my birthday.    BTAC will happen from April 27-May 3, and it will once again be at the Doubletree Campbell Center in Dallas, TX.

For those of you flying into DFW airport for the 2015 BTAC, great news for you in that DART's light rail Orange Line now runs to and from DFW .    You can ride it all the way to the Lovers Lane Station near the hotel

And the DART East Olive St Transit Center dropoff point for Megabus in Dallas is a short two. block walk downtown to the stations in which you can catch the Orange and Red lines headed to the hotel area.

So for those of you looking for local transit options to get you to the host hotel and back to the airport or bus , they are available.

As for the conference, The National Black Trans Advocacy Conference & Awards Gala (BTAC) is a distinct educational and empowerment program event, home to nearly 300 plus trans and gender non-conforming individuals, our family, friends, community allies and corporate partners from across the country who are focused on advancing black trans equality.

BTAC is a unique life changing (5) day program that furthers education, provides linkage to resources, community building and organizing, leadership development and celebration of diverse identities.

BTAC is host to over 50 workshops, seminars, CE courses, general sessions, open-forum discussions, and guest speaker presentations bringing together community educators and leaders to address the critical issues of access and parity in our society. The conference is provided free and is open to the public to gather, educate, learn, build and grow together in unity.
BTAC featured programs and events:

(5) Days of Empowerment
Black Trans Community Summit
Career Services & Job Fair
Health & Fitness Expo
Transgender Advocacy Awards Gala
Mr & Ms Black Trans International Pageant
Black Diamond Ball
Family Day in the park.
TransManifest - Live
Minority Business Expo
Hats Off Luncheon
InterFaith Summit
TRANSFORMATIONS Health & Fitness Competition
...And More

So yeah you have time to make plans to get to Dallas and hang out with your peeps from Texas and around the nation at the Doubletree Campbell Center.  

And yeah, that's my birthday weekend, so I'm planning to be in the BTAC house again.

Deadline: April 1, 2015
Registration: http://btac.blacktrans.org/
Scholarship: http://blacktrans.org/attendee-scholarship.html

Leaving On A Jet Plane-To Dallas

With all the drama swirling around the logic defying PRIDE Houston board decision not to move their parade back to the traditional last week in June, it figures this would break just as I have to go to Dallas for the Facing Race conference that starts today and runs through the 15th.

It's the first time it is happening in Texas, and I'm happy to be representing my hometown as I wing my way up there for the short fight up and back to Love Field.  

It's also ironic this is the first time I will ever fly into Love Field, where my late grandfather Leo worked until he was transferred to Houston.   I've flown into DFW,  and driven by Love Field in my numerous visits to Dallas, but until today haven't flown into the airport.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the folks attending that conference, and you can follow the action at the hashtag #FacingRace14

Dallas Adds TBLG Protections To City Charter!

There was actually some good news out of Texas in the wake of an abysmal night for Team Liberal Progressive.

One the ballot in the City of Dallas was  a proposed addition of a nondiscrimination proposition that would add several classes to its city charter.

Proposition 4 if passed would add in addition to sexual orientation and gender identity and expression, color, age, marital status, genetic characteristics, national original, disability, and military or veteran status

Dallas already prohibited discrimination against city employees based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in its equal employment opportunity policy.

When all 430 precincts reported in, 77% of the city voted to pass Proposition 4.

Congrats Dallas!

Upcoming 2014 Facing Race Conference In Dallas

Only found our about this conference recently, but since it is happening in the Lone Star State up I-45 from me, I've been invited to attend this year's edition of the Facing Race Conference in Dallas.

The conference is taking place at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, with previous editions of this conference having been held in Baltimore, Berkeley, Chicago, Oakland and New York


It's organized by the Center For Racial Justice Innovation, and the mission of Race Forward is to build awareness, solutions and leadership for racial justice by generating transformative ideas, information and experiences.

This is the first time Facing Race has been held in either Texas or the southern US, and it should be an interesting few days of discussions.  It's also showing on its website as sold out. 

The Facing Race conference is happening November 13-15, and you know that if I'm in the Hilton Anatole Hotel house, I'll be reporting on the interesting things going on there.

DART Orange Line To DFW Opens

As you TransGriot readers know, I'm an unabashed mass transit supporter, especially when that transit system in question contains a rail component.

Normally as a proud Houstonian, I'm usually hating on anything Dallas related with a passion, but for once you're going to see me write something that praises Dallas. 

And naw, hell ain't freezing over and we aren't experiencing blizzard conditions in H-town right now . 
While former congresscritter Tom Delay, Rep. John Culberson (R-TX), and the Harris County Republican Party have been fighting METRO tooth and nail to keep them from getting the federal funding to build light rail here in Houston,  DART has been gleefully taking the federal money METRO hasn't been able to and began getting busy assembling the largest light-rail network in the United States with 90 miles (137 km) of track, a commuter rail line that terminates in Denton, TX with another rail line to Ft Worth .

As a matter of fact, to build the initial 7.5 mile segment of the METRORail Red Line that opened ten years ago, METRO had to use its own money to do so


I finally got a chance to ride the DART Orange and Red Line trains during the recent Black Trans Advocacy Conference back in late April and May.   The Doubletree Campbell Center hotel that hosts BTAC is near the Lovers Lane station on the northern end of the Orange and Red Lines.  

When I get off the Megabus from H-town at the DART East Olive Street transit center downtown, I'm a short two block walk from the St. Paul and Pearl Arts Stations.   Those stations are on that Bryan Avenue-Pacific St corridor in which all four DART light rail lines currently converge in their run through downtown Dallas.

Even better, the St Paul station has a 7-Eleven nearby so I can get my Slurpee fix before I shell out the $2.50 for my northbound DART train ticket to Lovers Lane.        

I was well aware of DART's Orange Line being extended toward DFW Airport through Irving.  Construction had started on the DFW Airport station that was scheduled to open in November.  

In my conversations with this year's BTAC attendees, they lamented the fact it wasn't open, and were hopeful that when they returned to Dallas for the 2015 edition of the conference, the DART light rail line would be open for revenue service from DFW.    

Well peeps, you got your wish.  The extension and the DFW Airport Station in Terminal A was finally completed four months early and under budget.   It opened for revenue service on August 18.  

That's great news for all the peeps who travel to Dallas to attend conferences.  It also makes me hopeful that with our own METRORail Purple Line being just 5.5 miles from its current Palm Center termination point to Hobby Airport, funding can be found (hint hint) to extend it and connect at least one of our airports to the rail system like Dallas has done for DFW. 

But nice to know that the next time I fly into DFW, I can take the train into downtown and anywhere else along the DART Rail network .

BTAC 2014-Day 5

It's Saturday May 3, Day 5 of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference and we get to leave the hotel for a few hours for Family Health and Fun Day.  

Bus will be rolling away from the Doubletree Campbell Center property at 10 AM and the first annual Kye Allums 3 on 3 basketball tournament.    After returning at 4, the evening's events will be a screening of the movie Shirts on Skins,  BTMI's Club Harlem theme party in which the requested attire is 1920 Harlem Renaissance era costumes, Trans Manifest and  the Black Diamond Ball.

Lots of fun things to do today. 
   

BTAC 2014-Day 4

Moni's FINALLY in the Black Trans Advocacy Convention house to handle her BTAC business, see her peeps, and do a little reporting about what's happening at this third annual convention. 

We start off Day 4 with more seminars running from 9:15 AM -2:30 PM    I not only get to do mine with Espy Brown from 1:15-2:30, after the break I head into the Tiq Milan moderated  Black Trans Community Summit in which I'm one of the participants along with Louis Mitchell, Kim Watson, Carmarion Anderson, Jonathan Thunderword, Justice William Millhouse, and Dee Dee Watters.

Then after the conclusion of the Summit, we move into the Black Trans Advocacy Awards gala in which KOKUMO is scheduled to be performing.

 

BTAC 2014-Day 3

Day 3 of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference at the Doubletree Campbell Center dawns with more workshops on the schedule starting once again at 9:15 AM and running until 2:30 PM 

And if you're asking Where's Moni?', assuming no complications, I'll be in the BTAC house later tonight.  

Today will also feature the highly anticipated keynote addresses of Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler, Arianna Lint and Ignacio Rivera that are set to start at 2:45 PM

Once those keynotes have been completed, starting at 7 PM will be the Mr and Miss Black Trans International pageant to close out BTAC's third day.

BTAC 2014- Day 2

It's Day 2 of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference in Dallas, and on the schedule for today is the first day of  workshops that commence at 9:15 AM. and run with breaks until 4 PM

The first full day of the conference is one packed full of interesting and informative seminar topics that will be capped off by the Imagine One Humanity - Interfaith spiritual revival service.

The people conducting that interfaith service will be Pastor Deneen Robinson, Min. Carmarion Anderson, Rev. Alex Byrd, Min Kaleb Elijah and Auset O'Neal.

And yeah people, I'll be on your end of I-45 tomorrow night.